France deploys 70,000 police ahead of expected Halloween protests

France will deploy around 70,000 police officers across Paris and other cities ahead of nationwide protests planned for Saturday. France 24 and Reuters both report that French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned of a very high risk of public disorder during the upcoming weekend demonstrations. [1][3]

The calls for new demonstrations on Saturday come from student unions and the Yellow Vest movement, according to France 24. The unrest stems from growing public anger over inequality and the rising cost of living, following earlier nationwide demonstrations on October 17 that resulted in heavy rioting. [1]

Demonstrations against school and economic conditions began with high school students in September 2026. As FTMQ News reported earlier, trade unions and teachers later joined the movement, leading to nationwide blockades, the closure of up to 500 high schools, and nearly 2,000 arrests recorded by the French Interior Ministry on October 1. [6][9]

The student protests expanded in early October into a nationwide mobilisation involving an estimated 550,000 to 800,000 participants. These demonstrations form part of a broader wave of unrest affecting multiple European countries. [6]